DEFENCE POLICY

Hokitika Guardian, 10 August 1938, Page 5

DEFENCE POLICY

‘ AIM TO TRAIN LEADERS. \Per press association—Copyright) • CHRISTCHURCH, . August 10., ' “I cannot'talk: about'policy,” said; Colonel' P; H. Bell,. Officer Coimnandihg the Southern' Command, >t .thq annual reunion ‘of ; the Canterbury Mounted Rifles ? la'st ' everiing, “and nor do, I know whether the/present service is good or not, or. whether it is too small, or'anything like that*/ I would lose my. job if I did,” lie added. '• ••' /Y >/'-•/>/

“I would , like to' point out, ' however/’ Colonel Bell continued,'.“that' although the 'army/ might seeip ’to" be i tlie Cinderella of the forces"just now, , fhe underlying principle • of . policy/is ;bo train leaders. ' > The organisation, i which the authorities have in. mind, is .based‘on a small force of picked men. We expect to train leaders, to become the nucleus of a large force, if such should ever be necessary. At the moment things are progressing slow-' ,ly, but they have not yet reached the stage which the authorities are hop- . ing for. . .''./,■ // “I am not one,” Colonel Bell concluded/“who believes that the day of the horse is over. The authorities recognise the value of the horse , and the present organisation provides for ■a brigade of mounted rifles in New Zealand. There'are three districts, /each providing a l-egiment, although /in point- of fact there is the nucleus ;of two in each district. Six regiments, therefore, could be put in the field if the call came."” . V ’ •